Web perfecting rotary press



y 1940. H. M. BARBER 2,202,134

WEB PERFECTING ROTARY PRESS a 4 Filed Oct. 4, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet? ATTORNEYS Patented May 28, 1940 UNlTED STATES WEB PERFECTING ROTARY PRESS Howard M. Barber, Pawcatuck, Conn, assignor to C. B. Cottrell & Sons Company, Westerly, R. I., a corporation of Delaware Application October 4, 1938, Serial No. 233,183

3 Claims. (01. 101 -l79) In high speed web perfecting rotary printing presses where quick drying inks and web drying units are used in connection with the web print-- ing units it is desirable to so locate the several units as to produce the best results while occupying a minimum amount of space.

The object of my invention is to facilitate handling of the several form cylinders, inking mechanisms, and web lead by providing an impression cylinder having the diameter equal to more than three times the diameter of each of its form cylinders.

Another object of my invention is to so locate the form cylinders about the impression cylinder 15 as to allow greater freedom in making ready. My invention comprises, generally, first and second multicolor printing units, each of .said printing units consisting of an impression cylinder having a diameter equal to more than three 20 times the diameter of each of its form cylinders, form cylinders (in the present instance five form cylinders) arranged around their impression cylinder, inking mechanisms for the form cylinders, first and second drying units 5 located above, between, and in line with the printing units and a web supply roll. Means are provided for passing the web fromthe supply roll to and through the first printing unit, then to and through the first drying unit, then to 30 and through the second printing unit, then to and through the second drying unit, and finally directing the web therefrom in the desired direction.

Practical embodiments of my invention are 35 represented in the accompanying drawings, in

which Fig. 1 represents a diagrammatic side elevation of one form of my invention in-which the form cylinders are arranged four on one side 40 of the impression cylinder and one on the opposite side thereof; and

Fig. 2 represents a diagrammatic side elevation of another form of my invention in which the form cylinders are arranged three on one 45 side of the impression cylinder and two on the opposite side thereof.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, the first printing unit is herein represented as a five color unit, the impression cylinder being denoted by l and 50 its five form cylinders by 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, which form cylinders are arranged around the impression cylinder so that four are located on one side and one on the opposite side thereof. Inking mechanisms for the form cylinders are de- 55 noted by 2", 3', 4 5* and 6 and apply the ink to their respective form cylinders in the usual manner.

The second printing unit for perfecting the web is herein represented -as a five color unit, the impression cylinder being denoted by 1 and 5 its five form cylinders by 8, 9, l0, H and I2, which form cylinders are arranged similarly to those. of the first printing unit. The inking mechanisms for the form cylinders are denoted by a, 9 m, H and 12 and apply the ink to their respective form cylinders in the usual manner These two printing units are located in line with each other in the same horizontal plane at opposite ends of the press. 15

The first dryingunit is herein represented as comprising a heating 'unit l3 such as a gas burner and two cooling cylinders I4 and IS.

The second drying unit is herein represented as comprising a heating unit l6 such as a gas 0 burner and two cooling cylinders l1 and i8.

These two drying units are provided with shields l9 and in order that the vapors arising from drying the web may be easily disposed of and dissipated by a blower or suction device 26 2|, 22 so that they will not again come in contact with the printed surface'of the web.

Any cooling medium such as water may be supplied to cooling cylinders l4, l5 and I1, l8.

The drying units are located above, between, 30 and in line with the printing units.

It will be understood that the web may be fed in the usual manner from a web supply roll 23.

In the form shown in Fig. 2 the form cylinders are, arranged three on one side of the impression cylinder and two on the opposite side thereof.

In operation the web is led from the supply roll to and through the first printing unit where 40 the web is printed in multicolor on one side thereof. The web is then led to and through the heating unit l3 of the first drying unit with the printed side exposed to the source of heat therein and then to and around the cooling cylinders l4, ii of the'first drying unit. From thence the web is led to and through the second printing unit where the web is printed in multicolor on the other side thereof. The web is then led to and through the heating unit l8 of the second drying unit with the freshly printed side of the web exposed to the source of heat therein and then to and around cooling cylinders l1 and II of the second drying unit. The perfected us web may then pass in any desired direction to a delivery point.

The means for driving the several units is not shown or described herein but any well known or approved means may be used. It is to be understood that each unit may be driven separately either for the purpose of "making ready or for any other reason.

It is to be understood that guide rolls are provided for passing the web from the supply roll in prescribed paths to and through the several units and to a predetermined delivery point.

It is also to be understood that any suitable heating medium such as gas may be supplied to heating units i3 and I6 and that any suitable cooling medium such as water may be supplied to the cooling cylinders l4, l and H, I 8.

It will also be understood that any well known or approved quick drying inks may be used in the printing units. D

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided an arrangement of the several units of the press whereby the inks on the freshly printed sides of the web may be dried with a minimum travel of the web, the form cylinders of the two printing units at the same time being so arranged about their respective four-way impression cylinders that ready access thereto may be had for the purpose of making ready or otherwise handling the cylinders.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do notintend to be limited to the particular embodiments herein shown and described, but

What I claim-is:

1. In a multicolor web perfecting rotary printing press, first and second printing units, first and second drying unitstherefor, said drying units being located in substantially the same horizontal plane, each printing unit comprising an impression cylinder and a plurality of form cylinders arranged aroimd the same, said impression cylinder having a diameter equal to four times the diameter of each of its form cylinders, a web supply roll and means for leading the web through said units.

2. In a multicolor web perfecting rotary printing press, first and second printing units, first and second drying units therefor located above, between and in line with the printing units, each printing unit comprising an impression cylinder and five form cylinders arranged around the impression cylinder, four on one side and one on the opposite side of a transverse vertical plane taken through the axis of the impression cylinder, said impression cylinder having a diameter equal to four times the diameter of each form cylinder, 8. web supply roll and means for leading the web through said units.

3. In a multicolor web perfecting rotary printing press, first and second printing units, first and second drying units therefor located above, between and in line with the printing units, each printing unit comprising an impression cylinder and five form cylinders arranged around the impression cylinder, three on one side away from the drying unit and two on the opposite side thereof, said impression cylinder having a diameter equal to four times the diameter of each form cylinder, a web supply roll and means for leading the web through said units.

HOWARD M. BARBER. 

